Lydia Silver

I’m open to ANY book written for a child reader, fiction or non-fiction, any age group - and my tastes will always lean towards the loud, the commercial, and the zeitgeisty. If you’re saying something new, I want to help you say it louder!

As always, across everywhere in my list I’m particularly prioritising and actively looking for creators who identify as underrepresented in publishing. My list is extremely commercial and I want to prove that these voices aren’t niche - they’re commercial too.

I’m really not taking on many picture books at the moment, but if I were to go for something, I’d want it to have a clear hook and also answer a need - a lovely story just isn’t enough for me right now.

For younger readers, I want clever, funny and an immediate hook. I’m particularly interested in author/illustrators and graphic novel creators for this area, but I’d love to see them in other spaces too!

In MG, I’m all about the big, ambitious and cinematic. Send me the next Skandar or Amari!

In YA, I’d love a high-concept romance - think They Both Die at the End or a YA One Day.

Authors, I'm trialing QueryManager for the next couple of months. You can now submit here: QueryManager.com/LydiaSilver

My email is still active if you'd prefer to submit that way! See the thread below for my current #MSWL.

I want to counteract this - I would LOVE to find a great contemporary Jewish story for MG or YA. Anything that isn't historical! I want Jewish rom-com or a Jewish fantasy and just Jewish joy in whatever forms #MSWL

Above all, I’m prioritising books from writers who identify as under-represented in publishing, whether that’s because of their race, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, socio-economic background or any other reason. Publishing needs these stories! #MSWL

Any book, in any space that makes my heart sing, my pulse race, my breath stop or any other wonderful cliché! #MSWL

A YA fantasy with original, compelling worldbuilding – think RF Kuang, Tomi Adeyemi or Ciannon Smart. I want magic and danger and hearts-in-mouths, but above all I want it to feel new #MSWL

Bold, big, bonkers books for younger readers – I’d particularly love to see graphic novels and illustrated books for the 7-9 readership but any big funny stories here are also brilliant #MSWL

Middle-grade stories staring queer characters – there’s no such thing as ‘too young’ to embrace who you are, or start to work that out for yourself #MSWL

I’ve updated our website but here’s a bit more detail on what’s on my current #MSWL…

OBSESSED with We Are Lady Parts at the moment. I’m constantly singing Voldemort Under My Headscarf. Authors, please send me your submissions with the same vibes so I can get my punk rock on! #mswl

More info on our ABOUT US pages, but right now I'd specifically love to find comedy MG, whirlwind romances and tons of scares #MSWL

Get clicking for rambles on how I came to #workinpublishing, my oddly specific #MSWL and to find out what my daemon would be...

Opening up our @DA_Childrens submissions for 2019! If you're working on an #ownvoices #MG adventure with an unusual mythology, a diverse #YA that's as funny as Louise Rennison, some ground-breaking children's #nonfiction #PB or ANYTHING ELSE #kidlit send it my way #MSWL

I spoke to @Claire_Coughlan about our #DACBaccess month and what I'd love to find - BAME authors, send me your funny books! #MSWL

We are now a team of TWO book-hungry agents @DA_Childrens. #MSWL #YA #MG #PB #Childrensbooks, particularly looking for #diversevoices